‘Tangles’ movie review: a beautifully animated Alzheimer’s drama undercut by manipulation
Tangles is an animated adaptation of Sarah Leavitt's acclaimed graphic novel about her family coping with her mother's Alzheimer's disease. The film handles its most emotionally devastating moments effectively, but the adaptation struggles with pacing and cinematic structure that undermine much of its impact.
The story follows Sarah, an illustrator and progressive activist, as she and her family gradually recognise that her mother Midge has early-stage Alzheimer's. While voice performances are largely solid—particularly Bryan Cranston's, who brings poignant paternal qualities—the film's straightforward animation and written dialogue limit its emotional authenticity. Contemporary slang in a late 1990s–early 2000s setting feels anachronistic, and supporting characters lack meaningful development.
- Animated Alzheimer's drama with strong emotional peaks but uneven pacing and execution.
- Bryan Cranston stands out in this graphic novel adaptation.
- Limited animation style and anachronistic dialogue undermine authenticity and impact.
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Tangles is an animated film adapted from Sarah Leavitt's graphic novel. It tells the true story of Leavitt and her family as they gradually recognise that her mother, Midge, is developing Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurological condition that affects memory and cognition.
Leavitt is an illustrator and the author of the original graphic novel, which documented her family's personal experience with her mother's illness. Alzheimer's affects millions of people worldwide and has significant impacts on both patients and their family members.
The film brings Leavitt's illustrated work to the screen through animation, featuring voice performances from established actors including Bryan Cranston. It adapts the intimate, autobiographical story from the graphic novel format into an animated feature film.